Two facts reason why SA Business Schools produce more job seekers than job creators

Wednesday, 01 February 2012 16:07 Written by Khabza

Just read the following articles and tell me what is the different to what is happening here in South Africa. If I can put you in clear vision about South Africa culture in business School , you will love reading Derek Server article again and again. I don't know how many times I was reading this article repeating it and repeating it. Let me go straight to my point first :

Quote number 1 - Derek Sivers

QUOTE "We're so surrounded by people who think like us, that it's impossible to see that what we think are universal truths are just our local culture. We can't see it until we get outside of it."

People who are vocal about jobs opportunities in South Africa are promoting dependent know one have a vision of independent like go to university then get education start your own business. What we here every day go to University get a better job, where?

Quote number 2 - Derek Sivers

QUOTE “How many people would like to start their own company some day?” In a room of 50 people, only one hand (reluctantly) went up.

Career guidance is still a big question in South Africa. Why? Majority of student don't choose the courses they are doing because they like or love them, it’s because they got accept to do them. Why majority of Business Schools in South Africa are producing more job seekers than job creators? Because they are in wrong place at write time. Now way you see South Africa improving in jobs creation if this tendency continues.

Fish don't know they're in water

Derek Sivers

Entrepreneur, programmer, avid student of life. I make useful things, and share what I learn.

Fish don't know they're in water.

If you tried to explain it, they'd say, “Water? What's water?”

They're so surrounded by it, that it's impossible to see.

They can't see it until they get outside of it.

This is how I feel about culture.

We're so surrounded by people who think like us, that it's impossible to see that what we think are universal truths are just our local culture.

We can't see it until we get outside of it.

I was born in California and grew up with what I felt was a normal upbringing with normal values.

I was speaking to a business school class here in Singapore. I asked, “How many people would like to start their own company some day?” In a room of 50 people, only one hand (reluctantly) went up.

If I would have asked this question to a room of 50 business school students in California, 51 hands would have gone up. (Someone would have run in from the hallway just to raise their hand.)

Thinking maybe they were just shy, I asked, “Really!? Why not?” - and asked individuals. Their answers:

“Why take the risk? I just want security.”
“I spent all this money on school, and need to make it back.”
“If I fail, it would be a huge embarassment to my family.”

Then I realized my local American culture. The land of entrepreneurs and over-confidence. I had heard this before, but I hadn't really felt it until I could see it from a distance.

All of my Singaporean friends live with their parents. Even pretty successful ones, even married ones, even up to age 35, live with their parents at their parents' home.

When I told one that I left home at 17, she was horrified. She said, “Isn't that horribly insulting to your parents? Weren't they devastated?”

Then I realized my local American culture again. The emphasis on individualism, rebellion, following your dreams. I had heard this before, but I hadn't really felt it until I could see it from a distance.

My culture isn't in the center. It's off on the edge, like one petal in a flower, like they all are. Not right or wrong - just one of many options.

Yes, the rest of the world can enjoy a good laugh at the stereotypical American - just now realizing he's not the center of the universe.

I'm just a fish who didn't know he was in water.